New RIDDOR Regulations published
Part of the bigger picture. After a great deal of talk about simpler regulations etc., the HSE has started to deliver - starting with RIDDOR 2013 (see The next step ). These have been tackled first because the current regulations are so complicated that many people have failed to understand them properly. This has frequently led to incidents being reported to the HSE incorrectly, or not reported at all. By updating the legislation and making it much easier to understand, and comply with, the HSE hopes that reporting standards will improve.
Tip. Don’t forget that the HSE bases much of its enforcement officers’ activities on the information it receives from those complying with the Regulations and that will continue to be the case. So, when reporting an incident avoid making statements which might suggest that further investigation is required.
What’s changed? The structure has been revamped. This includes simplifying the reporting categories. Now there’s a shorter list of “major injuries” (broken bones etc.); fewer types of reportable dangerous occurrence; and the schedule of 47 types of industrial disease has been replaced with eight categories of reportable work-related illness.
What’s the same? Reporting mechanisms and timescales have remained untouched. This includes the reporting requirements for fatal accidents, those involving non-workers (including members of the public), and those which incapacitate workers for more than seven days.
Tip. We’ve produced a quick guide to RIDDOR 2013, which includes full details of the changes (see The next step ). You should keep this with your accident book to help you to identify what needs to be reported, how, when and by whom.
For a link to the Regulations (HS 11.22.01A) and our quick guide to RIDDOR 2013 (HS 11.22.01B), visit http://tipsandadvice-healthandsafety.co.uk/download .
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